An algorithm with an eye for visibility helps pilots in Alaska
More than three-quarters of Alaskan communities have no access to highways or roads. In these remote regions, small aircraft are a town's bus, ambulance, and food delivery — the only means of getting people and things in and out. As routine as daily flight may be, it can be dangerous. These small (or general aviation) aircraft are typically flown visually, by a pilot looking out the cockpit windows. If sudden storms or fog appears, a pilot might not be able to see a runway, nearby aircraft, or rising terrain. In 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 95 aviation accidents in Alaska, including several fatal crashes that occurred in remote regions where poor visibility may have played a role. "General aviation pilots in Alaska need to be aware of the forecasted conditions during pre-flight planning, but also of any rapidly changing conditions during flight," says Michael Matthews, a meteorologist at MIT Lincoln...